Afrocritik’s Editorial Spotlight for Valentine’s Day 2025
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyekuc
Happy Valentine’s Day, my cherished music enthusiasts.
Can you feel the love today? Hopefully, the answer is a resounding yes, because you guys are my loves. And if you’re here, I’m assuming music might be one of your loves as well.
So, if nobody is showering you with love today, don’t be disheartened—because I have a brand-new Weekly Music Spotlight for you to fall in love with.
It’s been a fantastic week of exploring our amazing continent and her diaspora for songs that might ignite the beat of your heart (and your eardrums). These tracks should provide you with some heartwarming companionship for the week ahead.
If our Valentine selection isn’t enough, feel free to mix it up with the January Monthly Editorial Playlist unveiled last week. Be sure to follow us on our socials, @Afrocritik, to stay up to date with all the Spotlights.
If you or someone you know is releasing music that deserves to be discovered by the musically adventurous, don’t hesitate to drop me a line at yinoluu@afrocritik.com for details on how to get your music considered!
Now, without further ado, let’s dive right into this uniquely themed edition of the Weekly Spotlight. In keeping with the season, this week’s playlist is populated mostly by:
SLOW AND SOFT EMOTIONS: That’s right, this is the week for all the emotions to come unbottled. UK-based diasporan, Ebubé, kicks us off with the deeply expressive R&B track “Where I Wanna Be”, Teledalase dazzles with her Yoruba-laden balled, “Aabidi”, Kenyan superstar, Bridget Blue, flexes her vocal powers on “Pumua”.
Ossi Grace injects Afrobeats with greater emotive depth on “Ocean”, while TAR1Q channels his inner misunderstood character with “Zuko”. Toby Grey also embodies reassurance all over “Even If The World Is Ending”.
MORE EMOTIONAL FUSIONS: There’s no escaping the emotions here, even when we ramp up the tempo or switch up the genres.
LiGi’s “Kontrol” establishes her sultry artistry, Phaemous demonstrates his unique melodic stylings on “Kulu Kulu”, Tanzanian new school act Toyi stamps his arrival with “Hasta La Vista”, Raytheboffin flies the alté flag high on the bouncy “iron sight”, versatile songstress Bella Alubo gives us “In My Face” off her new Run It Back EP, and Francophone chanteur Rémy Adan gets the waistlines moving with the energetic “Tchokoroba”
SOUTH AFRICAN GEMS: Is our playlist ever complete without taking a quick swing down south? Never! So we relish in Oskido’s on-topic “Date Night”, hold hands to KMAT’s love-themed “MLB”.
We also hold space for this new offering “Show Me” from Kooldrink and perhaps his next Tyla-esque discovery in Nina Nevra, pop to the dance floor for TRESOR’s thumping “Wale Wale”, and revel in the boisterousness of “Twalatsa” by Khalil Harrison, Tyler ICU, Scotts Maphuma and DJ Exit.
Remember, this is just a glimpse of the musical wonders awaiting you in our playlist. Hopefully, you stumble upon something that finds a home in your own playlists. Be sure to explore each featured artiste and album fully to uncover your own hidden gems. And if you’re a budding musician with a sound worth sharing, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Now, let the music envelop you in its embrace, and may each melody carry you to new heights of joy and inspiration. Enjoy the journey, and may your week be filled with sweet musical bliss.
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.